Thread: Hispanic Coalition President Mario Obledo Dies in Sacramento

Aug 20, 4:08 PM EDT

Mario Obledo dies in Sacramento at age of 78

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Mario Obledo, president of the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, has died. He was 78.

Obledo's wife, Keda Alcala-Obledo, says he died Wednesday in Sacramento after suffering a massive heart attack.

During his career, Obledo was known for his support of civil rights and humanitarian causes.

In 1998, President Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, the nation's highest civilian honor.

While serving as California's secretary of health and welfare from 1975 to 1982, he was credited with encouraging Latinos to enter state government.

Obledo also was co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, or MALDEF, and the Hispanic National Bar Association. He was national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens in 1983-85.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... SECTION=US

"While serving as California's secretary of health and welfare from 1975 to 1982, he was credited with encouraging Latinos to enter state government"

And that is all I have to say about that. .

Why am I not surprised at the heroic action which Mario Obledo has taken in bringing down that offensive billboard in Blythe, Califaztlan? The sign warns other states to not become what some racists believe California has become - namely: the Mojado (I use the word con cariño) State. Obledo threatened to tear down the sign and burn it if it wasn't removed, and i mean, de volada. That community has now removed the offending sign, but maybe they ought to put up another billboard: "California - The State That Used To Belong To Mexico," but was stolen by the U.S. in an illegal war as was Tejas, Arizona, Colorado, Nuevo Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Oregon which parts? Parts is parts, right? Anyway, back to
http://www.mexica.net/immigrat/Mario_Obledo.php